Operating device for the latching means of coke oven doors



G. HENSELEIT July 5, 1955 OPERATING DEVICE FOR THE LATCHING MEANS OF COKE OVEN DOORS Filed April 18, 1951 m M M United States Patent 0 GPERATING BE'VZCE FOR THE LATCHING MEANS 6F COKE OVEN DGORS Georg Henseleit, Essen, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Koppers Company, inc Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April 18, 1951, Serial No. 221,617

7 (Ilaims. (Cl. 292-4) My invention relates broadly to the operation of coke oven batteries and more especially to an operating device for the latching means of coke oven doors.

The doors of chamber type coking ovens are supported on the door frames or on reinforced oven-head portions by means of latch bars which are pivotally mounted on a This type of oven battery requires conventionally a cyclic sequence of charging and discharging the oven chambers constituting the battery, in a definite and predetermined and timed manner, as illustrated in Marquard U. S. Patent 1,323,71l of 1919. The doors of said ovens therefore conventionally are latched and unlatched sequentially, for extraction and reinsertion of the doors at the two opposite horizontal ends of the chambers, sequentially in accordance with the coking sequence chosen for individual oven batteries.

In order to facilitate the operation of rotary pressure screw shafts and to obtain a steady tightening operation which is set to the desired closing pressure it has been proposed to employ an arrangement in which the said pressure screw shafts are tightened or released by means of an electrically operating apparatus in which the motor is switched off, for example by means of a relay, after requisite closing pressure is established.

In order always to obtain the same door closing pressure at every door closing operation it has been suggested that closing (compression) springs should be provided between the latch bar and the door body. However, with this arrangement it is necessary, for the purpose of opening the door, to compress the said springs by an axial movement of an associated pressure screw shaft or member (which are thus rather in the nature of rams) until the latch bars can readily be pivoted out of engagement with the latch hooks provided on the door frame or reinforced oven-head portions in order to secure the latch bar in its closed position.

Where coke oven batteries are extended as by adding new ovens to the row, it frequently occurs that the same battery includes door latching means of the first named pressure screw type in which the latch bars are rotatably mounted on rotatable pressure screw shafts and also door latching means of the second named ram type which includes closing springs for eifecting an axial movement of an axially movable pressure member or ram for tightening or releasing the latch bars.

The latch operating means for each of these types of latches are not operable with the other of these latches. This has necessitated two door handling machines for such batteries.

l atented July 5, 1955 Now this invention has for one of its objects to provide a latch bar operating device for the latching means of coke oven doors in which the rotary movement which is produced by an electric motor, and transmitted to the pressure screw shaft of the door latching means by a suitable reduction gear drive, can be readily transformed into an axial movement to also effect the axial movement of the ram type of latch bar for the purpose of compressing the closing spring or springs of the latter type of latching device.

Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention the rotary head portion of the operating device for turning the screw threaded shaft also carries a travelling nut furnished with a pressure piece adapted to act in the axial direction of the axial pressure member or ram for producing axial movement of the latter to compress their sprays.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an operating apparatus for the latching means of coke oven doors which, although applicable to doors of the type wherein compression springs are used for maintaining a steady closing pressure and wherein axial movement of a pressure member or ram is employed for the operation of such door latching means is also readily adapted for use with the type of latching means employing a rotary screw threaded shaft for the tightening of the latch bars.

According to the invention this further object is achieved by providing the rotary head with a coupling member for driving connection with a rotary latch bar pressure screw shaft and by also arranging the said pressure piece on the said travelling nut in such a manner that it can be displaced or moved, e. g. pivoted, into or out of alignment with the said coupling means so as to be available for use for effecting the axial displacement of the axially movable member or ram of that type of latching means or so as to expose the said coupling member for use with the rotatable pressure screw shaft of that type of latching means.

According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus for operating the door latching means of a coke oven, said apparatus being capable of use selectively either on latching means incorporating a rotary pressure screw shaft pivotally carrying the latch bar or on latching means employing an axial shifting movement of the axially movable pressure member or ram pivotally carrying the latching bar, said apparatus comprising a power driven rotary head furnished with (a) a coupling socket engageable with the end of a rotary pressure screw shaft to rotate the latter and (b) a screwthreaded travelling element or nut having a screw-threaded engagement with the rotary head and adapted for movement in the direction of the axis of the rotary head, said screw-threaded nut or element being provided with a pressure piece capable of being interposed between the said coupling socket or the rotary head and the end of a pressure member or ram employing an axial sliding or shifting movement, and means for retaining said out or element against rotation with the rotary head when it is desired to use the said pressure piece for exerting axial sliding or shifting pressure on the axially sliding or shifting movable latch bar member or ram, so as thereby to produce axial shifting movement of the said nut or element and pressure piece on rotation of the said rotary head occurring.

The said pressure piece may be releasably retained in an operative position for operation of the rotary head with rotatable pressure screw shafts and an inoperative position relative to axial pressure member, i. e. out of alignment with the rotary head by a catch like retaining member on the rotary head whereby they rotate with the head during the operation of the head in tightening and releasing rotatable pressure screw shafts.

According to a further feature of the invention a withdrawable control rod or bolt is provided for retaining the said nut against rotation when the said pressure piece is in use, such rod or bolt being carried by the door lifting and removing apparatus and being engageable with a lug on the said nut.

It will be obvious that apparatus having a coupling member and a displaceable pressure piece as above described can be readily adapted for use with both said two characteristically difie'rent types or" door latching means for coke oven doors which dilfer in construction and operating characteristics, simply by withdrawing and inserting said rod or bolt which controls the axial sliding movement bf the travelling nut. This operation may easily be performed by the operator who also controls the actual door lifting and removing device for the doors, since the operating device for the door latching means is conventionally mounted on or fitted to this general door opcrating apparatus.

In order that the invention may be thoroughly understood one form of construction of latch operating means embodying the features of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing which represents in Fig. l, a part-sectional and part elevational view through one of the axially slidably movable door latching means of a coke oven and its associated operating device, the other rotatable latching means being similar but differing therefrom essentially in having the shaft rotatably mounted by screw threads in the door body bearing 3, as represented in Fig. 2.

In the drawing the door body is designated by the reference 1. A hearing 3 is fitted to the door body 1 by means of screws 2. When a pressure ram is used, it is axially slidably mounted in said bearing 3, the ram 4 having a head or collar 5 resting in an enlarged recess 6 of the bearing 3. When a pressure screw shaft is used it is screw threaded in the bearing 3, as shown in the following mentioned Berg patents and at 5' in Fig. 2.

The latch bar is indicated at 7 and is adapted, in its closed position under pressure of the springs, or rotation of the screw shaft, to engage at its extremities 8 in latch hooks fitted to the oven-end or to the oven door frame; the said hooks are not shown in the drawing, since this is conventional in this art as shown in Fig. 3 of U. S. patents to Berg 2,123,521 of 1938, and in Fig. 4 of Berg et a1. 2,179,608 of 1939.

Between the latch bar 7 and the bearing 3 on the door body there are provided a series of closing or compression springs 9 which are preloaded by an adjustable nut 10 on shaft 4.

When the door is in the door frame or oven end for c losing the oven and when inward axial pressure is exerted on the head portion 11 of the ram 4, the shaft 4 slides axially inward and springs 9 will be compressed by nut 10 in such a manner that the latch bar 7 is freed from the latch hooks thus freeing the bar 7 of the effect of the pressure of spring 9 on the latch hooks, and bar 7 can be pivoted rotatably on sleeve 7' out of engagement with the latch hooks, butwhen no inward pressure ,is exerted on the ram 4 the requisite predetermined closing pressure will be maintained on the door by means of the compression springs 9. Latch bar 7 is mounted for free rotation on sleeve 7. The sleeve 7 is screw threaded on the threads of shaft 4, and has collars 7" to retain the bar 7 in place. When adjusted in proper place the sleeve is set by means of cotter pin 7". p

The compression of the springs 9 (required during the closing as well as during the opening operation of the door) is elfected by means of a U-shaped pressure piece 13 on the operating device indicated generally at 12, pressure piece 13 being adapted to act on the head portion 11 of the ram 4. t

The operating apparatus 12 comprises an electric motor 14 and a reduction gear drive 15 coupled with said motor and also connected, through an intermediate part 16, with a rotatable head screw17 on which is coaxially mounted a travelling nut 18.

The travelling nut 18 is provided on both sides with laterally extending lugs 19 which serve as pivots and carriers for the pressure piece 13 which may be swung into the full line position or to the dotted position shown on the drawing.

On its underside the travelling nut is provided with an integral lug or projection 23 and a control rod 22, parallel to the axis of the screw head 17, passes through a bore 21 in the said lug. The rod 22 is mounted in angle irons or like bearing members 23, 24 which form part of the main door operating apparatus 25 and at its outer end (which passes through the channelframe of the door operating device 25) rod 22 is provided with a retaining pin 26 which passes through the rod and the limb 27 of the angle iron 24.

When the inner end of the rod 22 is engaged in the lug 20 of the nut 18, the latter travels axially on the head screw 17 when this rotates, since the cooperating threads on screw 17 and nut 18 cause nut 17 toprogress out: wardly, when screw 17 is rotated to the right, and in.- wardly toward 16 when screw 17 is rotated to the left, but if the rod 22 is withdrawn from the lug 20 rotation of the head screw 17 does not produce axial travel of the nut since the nut 18 then is not restrained from rotating with screw 17, the nut 18 rotating instead with 17. A coupling member 28in the form of a socket is arranged'on the head screw 17 of the operating device 12 and is exposed when the pressure piece 13 is pivoted into the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing and in full lines in Fig. 2, so that the end portion 29 of a rotary latch or pressure screw shaft of that type of latch bar means, which is indicated in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing can readily engage with said coupling member 28 by entering the socket as shown, the pressure piece 13 then being secured in its inoperative position by means of a catch or latch 30. When the pressure piece 13 has thus been pivoted into its inoperative position and the locking pin 26 has been removed from the control rod 22, the latter rod 22 can readily be withdrawn from the lug or projection 2 of the traveling nut 18 so that the latter can readily rotate, without axial'traverse of nut 18,,with the head screw 17 of the operating apparatus. This operation results in screw 17, through coupling member 28 rotating the end 29 of the pressure screw shaft of that type of latch bar to increase or decrease its lengthbetween the latch bars 7 and the front face of its bearing 3, in tightening and releasing the latch bars 7 relative to the door hooks as shown in the aforesaid Berg patents. During this mode of operation 29, 18, 30, 17, 12 and 16 rotate together as a single unitary whole under power of motor 14.

Thus the operating apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing is equally applicable for sequentially secur-- ing coke oven doors with rotatable latch screw shafts as in the Berg patents, and in Fig. 2, as well as those requir ing an axial shifting movement, such as a sliding movement of the latch or pressure ram or member 4, as shown on the present drawings.

It is tobe understood that the above particular description is by way of illustration and that changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims with and engageable with the end of a rotary screw shaft to rotate the same, and said head also having a screw threaded traveling element having a screw threaded engagement with the rotary head and axially movable along the head in the direction of the axis of the rotary head; a pressure piece movable with said traveling element and interposable between the coupling socket on the rotary head and a said axially slidable latch bar ram shaft for axial movement of the latter, said pressure piece being mounted for pivotal movement on said traveling element so that it can be pivoted into and out of alignment with pressure screw or ram shafts of different door latching means; and means for retaining said traveling element against rotation with its rotary head and shaft when it is desired to use said pressure piece for exerting axial pressure on a said axially slidable latch bar ram shaft, so as to thereby produce an axial sliding movement of the traveling element and its pressure piece by the rotation of said rotary head.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and which includes latch means rotatable with the rotary head for retaining said pressure piece in its out-of-alignment position during rotation of the rotary head, and in which the means for retaining the screw threaded traveling element against rotation comprises a withdrawable control rod which is withdrawable from restraining engagement with the traveling element.

3. Unitary apparatus for selectively and sequentially operating door latching means of different coke ovens comprising latching means requiring a rotary movement for operation of a rotary pressure screw shaft carrying a latch bar, and latching means comprising a latch bar member requiring a rectilinear movement for operation of a latch bar, said unitary apparatus comprising: a power driven rotary head; a coupling socket on said head, ro-

tatable therewith, and engageable with the end of a said rotary pressure screw shaft of latching means comprising the same as aforesaid, when the rotary head is brought into alignment therewith to rotate the shaft thereof by rotation of said head; a screw threaded traveling element in screw threaded engagement with said rotary head and movable rectilinearly along said head by said screw threads in the direction of the coupling socket on the head, on rotation of the head while the travel element is restrained against rotation with the head; means for retaining said traveling element against rotation with its rotary head during rotation of said head, for effecting said rectilinear movement of said traveling element; and a pressure part mounted in position to be moved by said traveling element, on rectilinear movement thereof in the direction of said coupling socket, into engagement with a said latch bar member requiring rectilinear movement for operation of a latch bar of latching means comprising the same as aforesaid, when the head is brought into alignment therewith for rectilinear movement of the latch bar member by the rectilinear movement of the traveling element on rotation of said head.

Unitary apparatus for selectively and sequentially operating door latching means of different coke ovens comprising latching means incorporating a rotary pressure screw shaft pivotally carrying a latch bar, and latching means incorporating a member requiring rectilinear movement for operating a latch bar, said unitary apparatus comprising: a power driven rotary head; said head having a coupling socket rotatable therewith and engageable with the end of a rotary pressure screw shaft when the head is brought into alignment with a said shaft of latching means comprising the same as aforesaid, to rotate the same on rotation of said head; said head also having a screw threaded traveling element freely rotatable with the head and also movable rectilinearly along the rotary head in the direction of said coupling socket on rotation of the head; a pressure part movable by said rectilinear movement of said traveling element and mounted for interposition between the coupling socket on the rotary head and a said latch bar member requiring rectilinear movement for operation of the latter of latch ing means comprising the same as aforesaid, when the head is brought into alignment therewith, and means for retaining said traveling element against rotation with its rotary head during rotation of said head, for effecting the rectilinear movement of said traveling element when it is desired to use said pressure part for exerting rectilinear movement for operation of said latch bar member by the rotation of said rotary head.

5. Unitary apparatus for sequentially operating characteristically diiferent door latching means for coke oven doors comprising, in combination: a single machine movable from chamber to chamber alongside a battery of coke ovens having on the different doors latching means including a latch bar and a member incorporating a rotary movement to tighten and loosen the latch bar, and latching means including a latch bar and a member incorporating a rectilinear movement to tighten and loosen the latch bars; a power driven rotary head on said machine; said head having a coupling part engageable individually with the members incorporating a rotary movement of the aforesaid means comprising the same when said head is brought into alignment individually with each of said latching means to rotate the same on rotation of the head; said rotary head also having means thereon for converting the rotary movement of said head into a rectilinear movement, and a pressure part movable by the rectilinear movement thereby produced into position for rectilinear engagement individually with the members incorporating a rectilinear movement of the aforesaid latching means comprising the same, when said head is brought into alignment individually with each of said latching means, for effecting the rectilinear movement of the members of the door latching means that incorporate a member requiring rectilinear movement.

6. Unitary apparatus for sequentially operating door latching means of dilferent coke ovens comprising latching means incorporating a rotary pressure screw shaft pivotally carrying a latch bar, and latching means incorporating a shifting movement of a shiftable member including a latch bar, said unitary apparatus comprising, a powerdrawn rotary head having a coupling part for coupling engagement of the head with the end of a said rotary pressure screw shaft carrying a latch bar, to rotate a said shaft, and said head having a screw threaded traveling element in screw threaded engagement with the rotary head and rotatable with the head; means movable into and out of retaining engagement with said traveling element to restrain it against rotation with its rotary head during rotation thereof, to efiect rectilinear shifting movement of the traveling element by the rotary movement of the rotary head, and to permit rotation of the traveling element, respectively; and a pressure part shiftable with said rectilinearly traveling element and mounted for movement into a region between the coupling part of the rotary head and a said shiftable member of a latching means incorporating the same for shifting of the latter on rotation of the head, and movable out of said region for operation of a said rotary screw shaft by said coupling part.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and in which the pressure part is mounted for movement crosswise of the axis of said rotary head for its movement into and out of the path of operation of the coupling part, so that the pressure part and coupling part may be sequentially used for latch bar operation of the rotary pressure screw shafts by the coupling part with the pressure part out of the path thereof, and of the shiftable members by the pressure part, in the path of operation of the coupling part.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent 2,123,521 r F 2,179,608 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,190,297

Gibbons May 23, 1911 ,67 Farmer May 16, 1922 5 9 8 Berg July 12,1938 Berg et a1 Nov. 14, 1939 Salkvist Feb. 13, 1940 Berg June 10, 1941 Morrow June 17, 1947 

